Student with autism found wandering, mother blames school

Midwest City, Okla (KOKH) — A student with autism was found wandering around Del City Monday after being sent home from school without a ride.

His mom reached out to FOX 25 in hopes of preventing this from ever happening again.

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Sarah Shaffer said it was about 3:20 p.m. Monday at Midwest City Middle School when her son, Sean, was told by a vice principal that he needed to leave the premises.

She said Sean didn't argue, instead opting to gather up his things and start walking.

"Every piece of me wanted to lash out,” Shaffer said. “I thought they had just lost my baby."

11-year-old Sean follows an individualized learning plan (IEP). Shaffer said she had just met with his teacher and principal Monday morning to discuss that plan. Together they decided it would be best for Sean to stay after school on Monday's to make up missed work. But when Shaffer went to pick Sean up at 4:30 p.m., he was nowhere to be found.

Shaffer told FOX 25, "I decided to drive around the building after trying to ring the doorbell, asking the people who were coming out, 'Hey, have you seen my son?' Not getting any answers, texting his teacher, 'Hey, what's going on? Nobody's out here. Where's my kid?'”

She was already frantic when she finally received a text back from his teacher.

"The IEP teacher contacted me back and told me that she had seen him walking a half-hour ago down by Reno and Sunnylane. His school is by the hospital on Reno,” said Shaffer.

Fear set in and Shaffer realized she had no other choice but to call Midwest City Police, but they had already been contacted.

“Del City (police) had just contacted them and told them they had my son; that they found him,” Shaffer said.

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Sean was found by Del City police at a gas station. A good samaritan had purchased him some food and ordered him a ride home.

"So, I was waiting there, he called me a cab just so I could go home, and then next thing I know here comes the police,” Sean explained.

"They were really nice,” said Shaffer. “But when I got to him, you could see the terrified look on his face. He even looked at me and said, 'Momma, I thought I was going to jail."

Shaffer's now relieved and grateful, but she can't help but think about what could've happened.

"How am I as a mother supposed to be feeling safe sending my kid back,” she asked. "What is my child was one of those nonverbal children, how would anybody of ever found him?"

Officials at Mid-Del Schools issued the following statement:

“During school yesterday, we had a communication breakdown that affected a student’s new dismissal plan at Midwest City Middle School. After the school day ended, a student walked off campus after he went to the school’s bus rider pick-up location. School officials have been in contact with the student’s family to discuss end-of-day plans moving forward.”

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